Furious residents take outrage to county council
More than 100 residents from northern Berkeley County packed county council chambers during council’s regularly scheduled meeting last week expressing outrage, indignation and outright defiance of a $2.25 million waterline project that nobody seems to want and some believe is politically motivated.
“I do not need this waterline, I don’t want this water line and I will not tap into it,” said Cross resident Floyd Clark.
Cross residents were notified by letter two weeks ago that tapping into the water and sewer line that runs along S.C. Highways 311 and 6 in Cross would be mandatory and would cost more than $2,600 per household.
“I hear the figure is $2,610 just to tap into the line and what they neglect to tell you is this is just to have the water available for you at the street,” said Sonny Hogg of Cross. “To get it to your house you have to hire a plumber at $10 a foot to run pipe from the street to your house.”
After last week’s meeting, county supervisor Dan Davis said the county has never strictly enforced the fee, and that the $2,600 is spread out in $20 monthly payments for as long as it takes to be paid in full.
Disdain for the idea ran high in the packed council chambers.
“Someone committed deliberate malpractice over the design and execution of this project, and the sole responsibility of holding the parties accountable lies with the CEO of Berkeley County, the county supervisor,” said Moncks Corner resident Truman Metts.
One issue raised was the waterline’s proximity to District 7 councilman Caldwell Pinckney’s home.
Pinckney maintained the termination point of the waterline being close to his home is coincidental, and that allegations that he orchestrated such an expensive project just to bring county water to his front porch is ridiculous.
“The reason the water line ends 1,400 feet past Pinckney Circle is that the zip code changes and it becomes Holly Hill and is no longer considered Cross area proper,” Pinckney said. “Allegations that have been made in regard to this project have been nothing but hateful politicking. The only reason the water line stops here is because of the zip code changing and the area beyond is Holly Hill and nothing more.”
Davis said the reason for terminating the water line there had to do with nearby wetlands and the number of homes located beyond them.   
“The line would have to cross the swampy area and the wetlands,” Davis said. “There is a whole list of things you have to do before being able to do that. They pushed it down as far as they could, but basically there weren’t many houses after that.”
He also told the standing-room-only crowd that while council would not comment on or answer specific questions, each question would be addressed by council members and county staff.
In other council business, talks regarding the 2009-2010 budget were tabled until the July council meeting because of late changes and the overall uncertainty in Columbia over the allocation of funds to local municipalities.
“We’re uncertain where things are right now in terms of funds being allocated so we’re going to hold off until next month to give the state time to sort out their own budget issues.
“We could have our budget finalized and the state changes what they’re spending, the cuts will be felt on the local level,” Davis said.
The next county council meeting will be held on Monday, July 29 at 6 p.m.